Five-ring circus (updated)

All this talk about this being the last of the NHL’s participation in the Olympics has caused mixed feelings for me.

Because of the professionals in the Games, we can’t see another Miracle On Ice, as much as NBC’s newbies want to try and fabricate one this year. There can’t be that type of David and Goliath. And there can’t again be the magical year like the one Ken Morrow had in 1980 when he went from Lake Placid Gold to the Stanley Cup in a matter of months. Since then Brendan Shanahan and Steve Yzerman have done the double-title-dip, and many more will if NHLers play in the Olympics.

All that ideal stuff said, though, this is the best hockey on the planet, with the best talent on the planet all gathered on one ice surface. Incredible hockey. I always say the best hockey I’ve ever seen was the 1996 World Cup, which I was fortunate to cover, and when you have all this talent at one Olympics there is the chance to see that ’96-caliber of hockey again. We might be seeing it this year, although that ’96 USA team was the best this country has ever assembled.

But I understand that the NHL doesn’t like closing its doors for more than two weeks (it is longer when the Games are on another continent) and providing all the talent (including officials and coaches and massage therapists and equipment managers) and assuming all the risk (how do you think Washington will feel if Ovechkin gets hurt, as an example?). And that the NHL especially doesn’t like not getting a big cut of the Olympic green pie. And that some years the games may not appear live or, you know, when most of North America is awake.

Perhaps Gary Bettman is just posturing for a deal with the Olympic committee, bluffing to get cut in. Who knows?

But it has become a topic for debate once again.

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A couple of things I forgot to mention yesterday:

1) Sidney Crosby blew his nose with his hand before the handshake line Sunday night. He wiped it on his pants. Some of you mentioned it last night. Yuch. Well, at least he shook hands this time, unlike when he snubbed Nick Lidstrom, the Detroit captain, after winning the Stanley Cup last year.

2) Kessler’s goal might have been the best empty-net goal I’ve ever seen, including those scored by goalies.

—————————–FINALLY, WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THIS MORNING. NOT SURE IF YOUR COMMENTS ARE GETTING THROUGH YET. I KNOW THEY’RE WORKING ON IT.
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Oh Carp, hope you don’t mind me popping in, but I know you have LOTS to do this week, and the heads seemed to enjoy these Olympics posts, and I’m still jonesing to be Report host, so I thought I’d just offer some tidbits :)

– I understand the argument of keeping the Olympics an amateur event, but so many of the top athletes in many of the fields are getting paid for being an athlete in some way shape or form. Whether it’s through sponsorships and endorsements or they play in a professionally organized league.

– There won’t be a miracle on ice for the Americans, but that doesn’t mean one of the minnows like Norway can’t have an unbelievable run at some point. When it was the Soviets vs everyone else, even if the Soviets were by the narrow a definition an “amateur” team, was it really fair? At least allowing teams to field their best players corrects this technicality.

– In some ways it is more validating, just as it was in 1996, to say our best beat your best head to head. The US can say to Canada that you have your golden child, your HOF credentialed goaltender, multiple team captains, etc. and we still beat you.

– The European soccer clubs have learned to deal with the issue of playing for club or country. If the world’s most popular team sport and some of the highest paying sports franchises in the world can relent on letting their players play in qualifiers and crucial games in the middle of the club season, so can the NHL. In some ways, playing in the middle of the season ensures that players are in game shape. The big problem with the World Baseball Classic, especially after this past edition, is that players are going to be wary of rushing their pre-season regime.

Because of the professionals in the Games, we can’t see another Miracle On Ice, as much as NBC’s newbies want to try and fabricate one this year. There can’t be that type of David and Goliath.

…….

Carp… I gotta disagree on this point. The fact that you have teams like Belarus competing with little to zero NHL talent, there is absolutely potential for a “David and Goliath” miracle… it just wouldn’t be “our” miracle.

I’ll agree this hockey tournament is *astoundingly astounding* so far. Even if NHL wont do “Olympics” again, maybe they can organize a similar tournament…(World Cup, whatever)

Def not trying to get head of myself…but I will say, this whole thing has been a lot cooler than I expected it to be.

bettman should talk to nbc and see if they can give them so money. they each need each other. hockey ratings will drop tremendously in the olympics if its not pros. and bettman can use olympics as a marketing device.

Carp,
Can you start putting up the times and channels of the games, sort of like what blogmama did? It would be greatly appreciated seeing as I have no way of finding out the times and channels of the game besides this place. Thanks a bunch

Isn’t it all about competition and entertainment? And above all, isn’t it about hockey? Well, this is the best hockey anyone can see. That’s why NHL should make all attempts to participate. I’m hoping that the new CBA will have something straightforward about it with NHLPA insisiting on participation. Playing in Olympics is a dream and pride of every athlete, as it should be.

Carp, I think they will, too, but it’ll be interesting to see how Canada comes out in the first few minutes. If, by some miracle, Germany has a few good shifts early and puts pressure on, the boo-birds could be out in force. Which in turn, could make Canada even more wound up than I think they already are.

That should be a fun game; Hiller should pull the Swiss through. I may have to find a stream to watch it while at work. I’ll record it anyway, just in case I get home early enough before Canada-Germany.

Farty is getting old, next thing you know he is going to skate to center ice at the garden while dipsy doodling with the puck, then take a penalty. He will then be pulled and while on the bench, get up in Lemaires face and inform him that this will be his last game as a NJ Devil. He will then be traded to finish the season, and then open up a Bar/Restaurant called In-Laws place. “When you choose to eat out, eat out at In-Laws.

If the US beats the team they saw over the weekend PLUS Luongo… now that would be a miracle. As it stands, this is going to be a somewhat whacky tournament.

The US (or Belarus/Swiss) should be playing Cz Republic for their chance to play in the Gold Medal game! Wow. While Canada, Russia and Sweden will be elimidating each other in order to get there (remember that show?). The US may have earned a silver by beating Canada Sunday.

Oh, and RobM, thanks for posting the line-up…..I’ll be happy to still do it. Yes, you can easily get the times on the Olympics site, but believe me, finding the channel line-up is a pain quite frankly. If it weren’t, you guys wouldn’t have been all “what’s the channel!!” last week :)

Great to see our hockey pro’s playing together and actually trying…not like the All star game.(no hitting) These games are great to watch cuz we see alot of passion and heart come into play. I find we are cheering players that are rivals and dissing players that are ours ( for me its Drury ). We cheer Sweden cuz of Hank and respect Slovakia cuz of Gaborik. I like Usa cuz my boys from the Rangers are there…but then I have to cheer on Marty!!??? This is WARPED!!! Its hard to cheer on players I hate (Crosby,Brodeur and crappy Pronger )

If we had Ametuers in there , then NO ONE would be all twisted up. Effects from these games could have SERIOUS ramification tward the rest of the NHL season…why risk pros in these game that could eventually screw up our teams in the NHL. Why should we cheer for crappy Slovakia or sweeden just because our “superstars” are there. We are not thinking for the goodness of our countries ,we are only looking to protect our assests in hoping for good thing from sweeden and Slovakia. If we had Messier or another Canadian playing for team Canada on the Rangers…then I bet a few of you guys would be giving good ol Canada a break. It seems like “pros” being in the Olympics is playing with our loyalty as well…anyone else agree?

Jeez, oh man. It’s snowing to beat the band up here. Gonna be a fun drive home in 2.5 hours.

Anyone else wanna see Norway beat Slovakia tonight? Fat chance of it happening, but look at it this way- Gabby gets the rest he needs/deserves PLUS more time to heal that cut AND we get to hear more about Tore Vikingstad.

Yo Orr , as they say …may the best team win. USA beating Canada is , a Miricle on ice. USA won the world Cup of Hockey also. Usa has Canada’s respect. The Usa may lose thier next game and then the other game and get NO MEDAL. Drury may be too busy reading all his own hoopla and usa will get scored on Powerplay after powerplay.
The thing is ORR ,as much as these games are fun to watch…its all over in a week or so and then the “real” fun starts up again. I love seeing everyones passion when it come to TEAM USA , so lets see some of it ( not saying this to you ORR) when the Rangers are back. I wanna see some of this PRIDE AND PASSION with our NEW YORK RANGERS . I want ’em to win the cup . Period. I’d cash in a Canada gold medal , just to see us win the cup!!! I sleep better at night when the Rangers are on top ,having Canada win just doesn’t cut it for me.

Watching Drury in the Olympics is like watching another player…which makes me think even more about the fact that he really just doesn’t care so much anymore. Not more than pizza, anyways.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Through a very, very close friend who works within the walls of a certain company that is owned by a certain somebody who owns a certain team (I really want to be careful on this)…

Apparently, we’re not alone in wondering just why Chris Drury is hyped so much by MSG and the announcing team during games…

Some kind of memo WAS sent out to MSG broadcast teams regarding Mr. Drury.

I’m waiting to hear more…but it looks very much like the same crap we heard when the Knicks announcers were told to never get down on the team is going on with the propaganda machine behind Drury.

It certainly makes sense, because praising a guy high and wide for scoring an EMPTY NET GOAL struck me as very, very odd. Not to mention the round-the-clock airings of ProFiles: Chris Drury and The Game 365.

So, take it for what you will. I trust the person I heard the news from (keeps telling me he has Sather’s cell phone number…oh, the temptation!!)

Orr, I can’t see Gabby so depressed that he’d be useless for the rest of the season. Yeah, I’m sure he’d be down for a while, but I think he’s enough of a professional (from what I’ve seen/heard), that he’d pull through it quickly enough.

If the NHL is gonna sell the game of Hockey, why have two broadcasters like Eddie O. and Pierre Mcguire announce like its a coaching session all night long. They should make the game more layman friendly.

I have always said that the Olympics should be about amateurs. Sure, there’s a “fun” element of watching a worldwide all-star game. It’s just that- fun. Of course the level of competition is much higher than the NHL All-Star game but it’s still proven talent. Obviously the thing that made the 1980 USA triumph so spectacular was that the participants were amateurs. Underdogs. If Canada should win this tournament it’s “expected”. If the US wins it’s good. I’ll be happy. But it just doesn’t have that “where did that come from” factor. Local boys who give absolutely everything they have on the ice. Playing for sheer pride and hopefully a look from some NHL teams. It’s raw. It’s real. Check your egos at the door. Plus, it makes for a great story no matter what. If they lose it isn’t a monumental disappointment. If they win it’s absolute bliss.

It’s kind of like the Rangers. They have the money to compete. When they lose with star-power and outrageous salaries it’s more of an embarrassment than anything else. If the Minnesota Wild lose it’s no big deal because we all know that their budget is nothing even close to what the major market teams have.

As fans we like to compare ourselves to the athletes that we watch. Most of us out there are hard-working, middle class people. When we see a team that sort of represents our own we feel more of a connection to that team. The 1980 Olympic team was just that. A bunch of hard working nobodies. And when they showed us that they could win, in a time of economic crisis and in the midst of the Cold War it was more than just a hockey game. It was sport imitating life. That’s what made it so glorious.

Great post Tony, unfortunately it will never go back to “amateurs”. And, back in the day, those eastern bloc nations were not amateurs in the true sense of the word.

Someone had said elsewhere that these days, with endorsements and sponsorships, most olympic athletes are getting some kind of pay for what they do. Once money starts changing hands like that, is anyone an amateur?

Linda, I do realize that those other teams weren’t amateurs. But didn’t that make it that much sweeter? I mean, yeah, we don’t want to send out a team representing the United States that’s going to get embarrassed. That’s just unfair to the players. I guess my mind and heart live somewhere in the past. Money really does just kill everything.

Tony, i agree with you. I mean, that 1980 team, to this day, i can see a 2 second clip and still get tears in my eyes. The only other team i get like that over is our 94 Rangers. It would be awesome to see amateurs playing again, for all the reasons you stated in your first post! That would really be something. Nothings wrong with appreciating the past, especially when it’s over something that had an impact on you!

That would be me Linda:
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CTBlueshirt
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:30 am
– I understand the argument of keeping the Olympics an amateur event, but so many of the top athletes in many of the fields are getting paid for being an athlete in some way shape or form. Whether it’s through sponsorships and endorsements or they play in a professionally organized league.

Tony
February 23rd, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Linda, I do realize that those other teams weren’t amateurs. But didn’t that make it that much sweeter? I mean, yeah, we don’t want to send out a team representing the United States that’s going to get embarrassed.

I really don’t understand these arguments for amateurs. Essentially Tony you’re arguing you prefer the amateurs because it isn’t hard on you if they lose and if they win it’s shear bliss. Why wouldn’t it be so amazing if the US won nowadays? I can’t buy into this argument. Also for the fact, that these players do have something to prove. All of them do. The favorites need to prove why they are the favorites and the underdogs want to prove they are better than that. If you don’t think players have a chip on their shoulder, just take a look at Kesler’s effort on that empty-netter.

The other is, “there won’t be another miracle on ice.”
First of all, there is no team as dominant today as the Soviet’s were with the Europification of the sport today.(I would say the talent is even because of the globalization, but let’s be honest…it only extends to Europe). Secondly, the attention that game got came from the politics of the time, not because of the amateurs. That game was a once in a millenia event and shouldn’t be something we look to and hope for a repeat. It was a miracle because of how unbelievable it was. Now I’m a Jew, but if everyone could turn water into wine, it wouldn’t be considered a miracle…

Again, just my humble opinion. But in an age where players are paid astronomically larger sums than those that predated them, I think it’s pretty cool how much this tournament that they do not get paid for, means to them.

I agree, Linda. For those of us who watch hockey and know the game, we can tune out the unnecessary noise for the most part. I can’t even imagine what those broadcasts must be like for people who are just only watching the games because of the Olympics. What an impression to send to those people. To echo your phrase, “Ugh!”…

AFLY- good points and well taken. I disagree that it’s “it isn’t hard on you if they lose and if they win it’s shear bliss”. It isn’t hard on me if the current US team loses either. In fact, it’s easier if THIS US team loses. It comes down to who I’d prefer to root for, I guess. I think there’ something special about rooting for a bunch of college kids who really don’t have much to fall back on. Ryan Miller, if he loses, gets to go back to the Sabres and continue his NHL career. sure, it’ll probably sting a little but it’s no HUGE thing. These college kids are raw, like I said in my previous post. They have everything to lose because they don’t have anything. This is their shot. This is possibly their only chance in the limelight. Some may go pro but you never know. They don’t have cushy contracts to dry their tears with.

I don’t doubt the current US squad’s passion for winning. It obviously means something to them and to the country. But you can’t deny the pure excitement of a nameless squad representing the USA. There’s just something more dramatic about it. That’s how I feel about it anyway. Everything we’ve ever experienced forms our opinions. I’ve always been an underdog guy. I like to see Cinderella teams win. It just seems to matter more.

For sure Tony. It just comes down to a matter of preference. I enjoyed the World Juniors because it’s somewhat a mixture of what we’re both advocating. Guys who need to really need to stand out to quell the doubters, like Ryan Borque for instance, really need to lay it on the line, while others like Taylor Hall get a chance to showcase their stuff for the draft.

AC-David – thanks. Saw the shootout in the round-robin, just wasn’t sure about the elimination round. The “anyone can shoot as many times as you want” rule is ridiculous – wonder how they came up with that one…

AFLY, I respect parts of your argument but I think Tony summed up my feelings about the ammie v. pro situation quite well. The Olympics aren’t supposed to be an NHL showcase. And how are the games balanced when some teams (USA and Canada) are all NHL, and others have none or maybe 3 NHL players.

Maybe it’s IOC’s problem and not the league’s or anyone else’s to figure out, I just think something is amiss. In mama’s humble opinion :)

Hey, boneheads, can you explain to me what amateurs you are talking about? Trust me, not a single players on that Russian 1980 team was an amateur. All pros. The way it used to work is that they were all listed as workers in different institutions (CSKA or Red Army- in Soviet Army, Dynamo-in militsia, Spartak- something else) and received salaries from those organizations. All they did was play hockey. That is a pretty well known fact. What people don’t know is that, even though their salaries were much better than average Ivan’s in Russia, those were still peanuts. Laughable even comparing to what was considered to be below poverty level in the US. And what US college kids that play sports in college on very high level make as endorsements, some under the table gifts, and scolarship should make them millionaires instantly comparing to what the Russian pros used to make. Now, can someone tell me what exactly those college students that play sports on very high level do besides that?

OK, ilb (and let’s remain friends here :)…ultimately, a big part of the miracle was that a state-sponsored team did get beat by a bunch of college kids (sadly, back then, hockey not so big here. The “miracle” did a lot to boost the sport, yet 30 years later, hockey’s still on secondary channels here. Huh.)
Nobody (who is old enough to remember the way things were then) considered the Russian team “amateur” by any stretch of the imagination. And I’m certainly not going to contend their lives were tremendously tremendous just because they were state sponsored.

However (pause in thought here)…I was going to type a whole other lecture, but have changed my mind. Sadly, the whole concept of amateur in the Olympics is dead when you think about it, in most sports and most countries.

If the US wins it’s good. I’ll be happy. But it just doesn’t have that “where did that come from” factor.

……

and what if Belarus won???

This argument is pretty ethnocentric in my opinion. Everyone wants another miracle but they want it to be on their own terms. I think if Belarus won the gold against the likes of USA, CAN, RUS…. it would just as “miraculous” as 1980.

my god does germany realize they will have to get the puck in the opposing teams net to win right? i realize they have to trap against such an offensive team, but try to do what we did. put some early pressure on and try to get a quick goal or some good shifts. they are gonna be feeling like tehy played a whole game afetr 1 period.

cr9- could care less whether youre gay,straight,bi,transtestical, whatever. i just asked cuz usually straight guys dont like lookin at other men with their shirts off

if nabby can play half as good as miller, russia will win. they will score more than usa, and the d is the only thing weak on russia, but they have so much offense, perhaps as much as canada, or almost as much. plus all they need is a clutch player like drury on their team. i think they have one in kalinen

germany u suck. this is the type of team that can give canada the boost they need to wipe everyone else out. thanks germany. at least try to score a goal and break through lou in the next 35 minutes. 3 goals in 3 and a half games!! uwe krupp, you gotta score to win games!!

oh i knew canada would win salty. i honestly wasnt expecting much from germany. i knew they had a trap and that it would be boring. but, i was hoping for a close game like against the swiss. and that first period was just pathetic. i like how theyre playing now. but its way too late. i wouldve thought germany wouldve came out a little harder especially in an elimination game

great job babcock. nash has been workin his butt off and hasnt been rewarded, yet, in a game you already will win, u put the baby out there?? insulting to nash. i dont know his shootout or breakaway success but still, let him shoot it.

it just makes crosby look even more of a selfish brat than he already is. if crosby was a man, he wouldve said,noo ,nash should shoot it. but he cant wait to try to be a hero and loved that he couldnt bury it.

ilb- it was like when ovie took 3 straight shots in teh SO. it doesnt instill confidence in the rest of the players. even though they are pros. you could see malkin and kovalchuk,morozov on the bench wondering why they werent shooting. that move by babcock to put sid out there wouldve pissed anybody off that deserved to take the shot. theyre all pretty much all stars on the team. and its not like they are gonna lose this. it was 4-0 at teh time.

mcguires not there or at least i havenmt sen or heard him cccp. are u having flashbacks of him from last game? lol. and did u see the way jr looked at milbury after he said the germans were standing getting peed on? lmao jr is funny i can only wonder what those 2 talk/fight about during commercial.

Just to chime in on the previous NHL/Olympics/World Cup discussion – I think the NHL has to cave despite Bettman’s posturing and play in Sochi in 2014. My rationale is based purely on business side of it.

The Russian and European players would be far too pissed that the NHL accommodated the North American players and the Canadians in particular by participating in Vancouver. If the NHL says they aren’t going to Sochi, it’s just another selling point for the KHL – play in our high level league and represent your country at the next Olympics.

Also, could you imagine Canada watching idly while the Europeans put their best players on the ice if that were to happen??

LOL, not sure if you guys saw this, but Langebrunner’s comments on Drury:

“He’s just clutch,” American captain Jamie Langenbrunner told NHL.com Sunday night. “I think I said that when people were questioning him on this team. There are not too many guys that are more clutch than he is.”

duke- ohh yes,weve all seen those comments lol. it just gets funnier and funnier. every damn goal he scores isautomatically “clutch” now. nevermind that his gwg in the first game was doen in teh first period, and his goal the other night wasnt the gwg. so yea, thats all it takes to be clutch if you have have alot of playoff goals. that 7.7 second goal just cemented his legacy forever., every goal he scores will be “clutch” now.

cr9- dont take it the wrong way. dont care if ur a poof. but in the name of poseidon, zeus, thor, odin and every god in the heavens, no more talk about jaromir!! he is an awesome player!! thats it!! lol.

Wow – lots of guys here with man crushes on Iginla. I see I touched a nerve. For the record I respect him way more than Cynthia. That being said I think Ovechkin will try to be physical with him since he’s a similar physical type player. It’s gonna be a great game.

seeding wise this would be a decent upset, but the czechs have looked horrible this game, so in reality not so much. Also this announcer said this has the chance to be the greatest upset in olympic hockey, are you serious?

morning heads. some pretty close games last night. especially the czechs and slovaks maybe lookin ahead and almost losing. the czechs def missed you know who. but damn halak sucked in teh norway game. i hope usa faces one of those 2 teams if they are gonna get close to a gold. rather the slovaks because of gabby and dont need backes or kesler checking the hell out of him. and we dont need another accidental collision between hima nd cally while cally gets up and is fine, gabby would probably get decapitated. just worrying about injuries at this point. now if dru can bring that passion back woith him, then come on clutch, but if not, then just stay in vancouver. you seem to play well there.

sweden will prevail against the gaboriks izzy!! cmon either usa,finland or sweden!!! wheres my scandinavian vikingstad brothers in arms-shoryuken,tomb,and the others?? ugh if only italy woudlve been able to get luongo to play for them since he is italian, and maybe cammaleri too, they couldve made the olympics. ricci?parise is french right? i knew an italian guy with parise as an italian name, but theyre close to each other. couldve been a corsican brother. wheres the sicilian hockey playesr from corleone??

ohh and real sorry about you sister linda. my grandmammy just had surgery on her shoulder and wrist after breaking both from falling off a chair. she hit her head too cuz shes gettig even more senile than before. ive been staying with her while she recovers, if she ever does, but this morning, she calls me from my room and when i get to teh living room, she says, wheres my tv remote? i said its right in front of you. she said no!! this is not it!! very confused, i looked at it, and sure enough it was, but she was accidentally using the house phone to try to change channels. i tried my hardest not to laugh, but i almsot shat my pants from laughin. she had the remote control on teh phone charger, and the phone she was dialing numbers tryin to change channels. dont worry im not insensitive because she started laughing too. it is sad though that she is getting so bad. she is a tough sicilian grandma that always took care of biz and kept this family together during some hard times financially and family in fighting. she was our grandma but she was really all of our “mothers”. such a good woman all her life. but yea, anyway im sorry for ya linda. surgery is very stressful to deal with not even including the risks especially as you get older. me n my ex almost lost our baby 4 years ago when she fell and had to have emergency c section. wife lost alot of blood and almsot died. sorry to bring this up, i dont wanna stress you out anymore. i’ll pray for her. whats her name?

morning carp!! ilb,linda,babchuck, i mean babs, wick,ilb,cccp,staal,salt,sally,orr(porn,thats what its good for!!),my lost viking brothers tomb,shory,etc…, nasty,spider,chuck woolery,somerset,jbytes,cr9 (the flaming heterosexual), pavel,tony az,mikaA,mike b, mike c, mike in ia, ohh thats me!!!, greg (the linguist), mickey,izzy,olga,fozzy,what the heck, miami pimp, bob, doodie,mouth, yan,li ranger, patrick,onecup,truefans,tr-808,uncle glennie,clutch, ctblueshirt,afly,retirebradparks, kaspar?????, mako,anonymous,crosscheckcharlie,this years model, all the matts and robs, and all others i dont remember at the moment, have a tremendously tremendous day filled with fantastically fantastic things and a team usa and russia win!!

All that snow the NYC area had a few weeks ago? We finally got it here in upstate. Over a foot. It wasn’t bad driving in as the roads were clear, but just the thought of shoveling it all is making my back hurt already.

Good morning, boneheads! Morning, Mike! Should be a great day of hockey. Going for USA first and then Russia! USA! USA! USA!USA! Vpered, Russkie!!
Imagine what I will sound like after I have some coffee?

I`ve just seen the second half list[51-100] of the”100 Rangers Greats”,a fan book about the Rangers< As a former Ranger fan from the mid70 s to a few years ago,now living out of state, i got to see many games both live and on tv,with Gordon and the Whistle, a great announcing team.Gordon should have received a lot more respect in the field.. Anyway, I got to notice that stiffs like Carol Vadnais,a traitor called by the whistle when he was palying in Boston,is listed as # 52,while one of my favorites,Barry Beck is listed at,,,63? How can any hockey or Ranger fan take this non sense seriously?Did any of these guys,unemployed writers,ever consider how important Beck was to the Rangers team of smurfs?Difense,short situations,power plays, physical play, captain and defensor of many bullies from many teams[toronto,philly,boston,detroit,etcc].I don`t get it! He must have pissed someone off,,, A note;The last time i saw Beck play at the MSG was a pre season game with Philly.By then his left shoulder was visibly hurting him,and Dave Brown,#21,his goon`s number challenged Barry Twice with Beck beating him both times,but he got up in pain favoring that damned shoulder with which he punished many right wings trying to come down on his side.there were two bench clearing brawls by the time the second period was over,,but it was Beck`s time to either get an operation and let those little mates[routsoleinen,rogers,johnstone, and others] get pushed around without his presence on the ice or stick around as long as he could. And what did Vadnais do??I don`t believe the list,it has a bad memory,or no knowledge of hockey.Other favs were Macfee,Vickers,Davidson and Boukeboom who got hit by Johnson on the neck,,ending his career.Beck and Boom were two solid defense men and Rangers fans have not seen such a presence in front of their goalies ever since,,,, or even ever again.Jim 516